Medieval Italy

Medieval Italy History

The medieval age of Italy began during the last days of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century.

After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, Italy fell under the rule of the Byzantine Empire.

fall of rome

This rule was taken away by Charlemagne who invaded Italy in the 8th century. Subsequently, the Papacy came to assert immense influence in Italy between the 9th and 11th centuries.

Map of Medieval Italy Le Repubbliche Marinare
Map of Medieval Italy Le Repubbliche Marinare

From the 11th century onwards, a number of powerful city-states emerged in Italy, notable among these was Florence. These states ultimately led the way to the Italian Renaissance.

florence g3fc038664 640

Italian Kings & Queens

The first person to proclaim kingship in Italy during the medieval ages was Odoacer. The next significant king was Charlemagne who defeated the Lombards and became King of Italy, while also assuming the title of the King of the Lombards.

Charlemagne-King-of-the-Franks

Eventually, Italy came under the reign of the Holy Roman Empire, and Emperor Otto I and his subsequent heirs used the title for themselves.

Medieval Italy Peasants & Slaves

During medieval times, Italy was known for a number of slavery hubs. Notable among these was Venice which sold slaves to territories all over the Roman Empire and Italy as well as to the Moors.

Slaves of different ethnicities and faith were sold although the sale of Christian slaves to Muslims was banned under the Eastern Roman Empire.

Peasants lived poorly in medieval Italy, although they usually had land, and peasants’ populations often clustered together as villages. They were required to pay a certain part of their annual incomes to the powerful lords.

Medieval Italy Plate Armor
Look at the splendid detail and workmanship on this medieval Italian plate armor

Medieval Italy Knights & Army

Armies in medieval Italy generally comprised of associations of knights who usually came together to defend a cause defined by the Church.

All the major knight orders such as Templars, Hospitallers, and the Teutonic Knights had presence and properties in Italy.

Order of the knights templar
Order of the knights’ templar

Minor orders within Italy were also established, mostly by the religious clergy, to combat religious transgressions. Examples of these include the Militia of Jesus Christ and the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Medieval Italian Castle Fenis
This is a well-defended Italian Castle Fenis built on the top of a steep hill

Medieval Italy Castles

Medieval castles in southern Italy were mostly constructed by the Normans. These castles incorporated a wide variety of architectural elements, blending the Norman and Islamic-oriental design.

Castles in other parts of medieval Italy, especially the city-states, were usually constructed by members of the rich aristocracy, often the princes of the city-states.

These castles also served as bulwarks of protection during the internecine warring. Such castles can be found in the Italian regions of Florence and Volterra.

florence g315bf3e2d 640

Medieval Italy Art

Medieval Italian art was heavily influenced by Byzantine art and its major manifestations were either architectural, such as decorative frescoes, or religious (examples of which are the illustrated bibles of the era).

Fresco Art In Medieval Period Fresco Painting of Arona Sant San anna Church

The decorative element gave birth to innovations in calligraphy and creative uses of colour. During the later medieval period, Italian architecture was heavily influenced by Gothic art which also came to influence Italian art.

In contrast to the later Renaissance-era realistic art, medieval art in Italy tried to realise a spiritual meaning.

This led to the shades of mysticism and the supernatural found in medieval Italian art. In the 13th and 14th centuries, painters such as Giotto pioneered realism in painting.

Medieval Italy Music

Music in Italy during the late Middle Ages had a melodic quality. Among the prevalent forms was Trecento Madrigal, which comprised of a verse/refrain format with three-line stanzas and a recurring two-line passage.

Another music form that existed in medieval Italy was caccio in which two persons sang in unison, usually about exploits and activities such as hunting. Ballata was another form of music that existed during this period.

Medieval Italian Food

Medieval Italian food was very rich in its ingredients and highly diverse, borrowing cuisine elements from many different cultures. The 9th-century invasion of Sicily by Muslims, for instance, brought elements such as almonds and rice to the Sicilian cuisine.

Subsequent Norman influence incorporated salt cod and stockfish into this cuisine. Olive oil was the primary choice for all uses of oil in food preparations. Eggs were used as a regular part of the diet.

Pasta was a popular food in Italy by the 13th century. Pies were a part of the cuisine and they came with a diverse range of topping choices ranging from meats to lentils.

The term “Pizza” was used to signify “pie” in medieval Italy. Among other highly popular staple, food items were sausage and cheese. Cheese of various types and qualities was used.

Medieval Italy Costumes
Examples of medieval Italian costumes of different medieval people

Medieval Italy Architecture

From the 9th until the 11th century, there was a period of Romanesque architecture in Italy that borrowed Roman elements such as Roman arches and columns. A number of architectural masterpieces were erected during this period, including the famed Tower of Pisa.

One of the key innovations of this era was the use of vaults. From the 12th century onwards, Gothic architecture became popular in Italy. This type of architecture was marked by a more somber and formal aesthetic approach. The most popular feature of Gothic architecture was the groin vault.

Gothic influence on architecture continued through the 12th century to the end of the 14th century. An example of medieval Gothic architecture in Italy is Palazzo Vecchio situated in Venice.

Medieval Italy Summary

Medieval Italy was influenced by a number of cultures including Roman, Byzantine, and Norman.

While Italy continued to be invaded by different forces during the early medieval period, in the later periods many different city-states emerged which enjoyed extraordinary independence and were able to become commercial hubs of trade.

Trade and the subsequent prosperity lead to a rich aristocracy and a prosperous middle class. Both played a very significant role in the Italian Renaissance.

Read More about Medieval Europe

10 Surprising Things About Medieval Italy

Medieval Italy, with its rich history and diverse city-states, is a treasure trove of surprising facts and intriguing stories. From cultural innovations to political rivalries, the medieval period in Italy

Map of the Byzantine Empire

Italy and the Lombards: A Historical Overview

Italy, with its rich history and diverse cultural heritage, has been shaped by the influence of various groups and civilizations throughout the centuries. Among the many groups that left their

Map of Medieval Italy Le Repubbliche Marinare

Greatest Kings of Medieval Italy

Italy, the cradle of Western civilization, has a long and fascinating history that spans thousands of years. Throughout this history, the country has been ruled by many kings, each with

Map of Medieval Italy Le Repubbliche Marinare

Medieval Italy – Important Historical Events

Introduction The Italian peninsula extends from the Southern Alps in the North to the central Mediterranean Sea in the South. The medieval history of Italy usually stretches from the collapse

Odoacer – King of Italy 476 – 493

Introduction Odoacer, also known as Flavius Odoacer was the king of Italy from 476 to 493. He became an officer of the Roman army in 470. His ethnic origins were

9 Incredible Italian Castles

Discover the Best Medieval Castles in Italy Most of the earliest Italian castles were built by rulers in the 10th and 11th centuries. Subsequent castles were usually expansions and modifications

Map of Medieval Italy Le Repubbliche Marinare

Famous Italian Knights

During the medieval period, Italy went from being a Lombard kingdom to one ruled by the Franks and eventually became a regular part of the Holy Roman Empire from the

Best Medieval Towns in Italy

Italy was the home of the great Roman civilization before the medieval period and remained a confluence of different European cultures throughout the medieval period. It was largely thanks to

Frederick II Sixth Crusade

Best Italian Medieval Castles

Castle-building in medieval Italy began largely thanks to the Normans who came to rule southern Italy during the 10th and 11th centuries. Many later medieval castles in Italy were simply